How does a heat pump work?

Industrial heat pumps are a waste heat recovery solution that captures low-temperature waste heat and converts it into usable high-temperature heat, significantly improving energy efficiency and saving energy.  

Unlike traditional fossil-fired boilers, which have an efficiency of less than 100%, heat pumps boast an efficiency greater than 100%. This means they can circulate otherwise wasted or low-grade energy, leading to higher energy savings. These savings translate to faster returns on investment and lower operating costs, making heat pumps a superior choice for maximizing energy efficiency in industrial applications. 

A heat pump is an efficient thermodynamic system that uses electricity to provide both heating and cooling by transferring heat as needed. Like refrigerators and air conditioners, heat pumps operate on a closed cycle using vapor compression. However, unlike most of those appliances, industrial heat pumps can reverse their operation to provide both heating and cooling. They consist of essential components: an evaporator, compressor, condenser, and expansion valve. Let’s see how does a heat pump work step by-step:

1. Low-temperature waste heat (water) enters the heat pump's evaporator.
2. The heat transfers to the refrigerant, causing it to evaporate, and the water exits cooler.
3. The low-pressure refrigerant vapor enters the compressor, becoming high-pressure and high-temperature vapor.
4. The hot refrigerant moves to the condenser, releasing heat to the customer process water, which exits warmer.
5. The cooled, condensed refrigerant goes through the expansion valve to finally return to the evaporator as a low-pressure liquid.
6. This cycle continues as the refrigerant re-enters the evaporator repeatedly.

The efficiency of a heat pump is measured by its Coefficient of Performance (COP). The COP represents the ratio of energy output (heat transferred) to energy input (electricity used). A higher COP indicates a more efficient system. 

Modern heat pumps typically achieve a COP between 2 to 6. This means they transfer four units of heat for every unit of electricity consumed. In comparison, traditional heating systems like fossil fuel boilers have a COP of less than 1, making heat pumps significantly more energy efficient. 

By choosing a heat pump, you can enhance energy efficiency and reduce your carbon emissions. 

A typical heat pump system consists of several key components:

• Compressor: The compressor is responsible for moving the refrigerant through the system. It compresses the refrigerant gas, increasing its temperature and pressure. 

• Refrigerant circuit: The refrigerant circuit is a closed loop of pipes that carries the refrigerant through the system. The refrigerant absorbs and releases heat as it circulates. 

• Heat exchangers: Heat exchangers are used to transfer heat between the refrigerant and water. There are two main heat exchangers in a heat pump system: the evaporator and the condenser. 

• Expansion valve: The expansion valve regulates the flow of refrigerant into the evaporator. It reduces the pressure of the refrigerant, causing it to evaporate.

Heat pumps play a crucial role in reducing heating-related carbon emissions. They extract more heat energy than the electricity they consume, boosting energy efficiency compared to classic boilers. As renewable energy sources like solar and wind power heat pumps, their environmental impact decreases. Transitioning to heat pumps is essential for significantly lowering emissions and combating climate change, as industrial process heating is a major contributor to global emissions. 
 
In industrial settings, heat pumps are used to deliver hot air, water, steam, or directly heat materials. Large-scale systems often utilize industrial waste heat solutions or other sources.

• Food & beverage
• Chemicals
• Pulp & paper
• Metal